Wright v Commonwealth of Australia

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA Not Restricted

AT MELBOURNE

COMMON LAW DIVISION

No. 4814 of 2000

CARL HENNING WRIGHT (as Executor of the Will of LINDSAY JOHN STAFFORD – deceased)	Plaintiff
v
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA	Defendant

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JUDGE:	Ashley J
WHERE HELD:	Melbourne
DATE OF HEARING:	1, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28 February; 1, 3, 4 March and 17 May 2005
DATE OF JUDGMENT:	22 June 2005
CASE MAY BE CITED AS:	Wright v Commonwealth of Australia
MEDIUM NEUTRAL CITATION:	[2005] VSC 200

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Torts – collision between HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Voyager in 1964 – whether injuries sustained – post traumatic stress disorder – nature of that condition – quantum of damages.

Limitation of Actions – whether s. 5(1A), Limitation of Actions Act 1958 applicable – whether post traumatic stress disorder a “disease or disorder contracted by” the victim.

Limitation of Actions – plea action statute-barred by s. 5(1)(a), Limitations of Actions Act 1958 – pleas in reply that the defendant was estopped from relying on that provision, or else that right to rely upon it had been waived – estoppel unsound in principle and not supported by the evidence – no waiver.

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APPEARANCES:	Counsel	Solicitors
For the Plaintiff	Mr J. H. Kennan, SC and Mr K. D. Mueller	Hollows Lawyers
For the Defendant	Mr T. J. Casey, QC and Mr A. J. Moulds	Australian Government Solicitor

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Statement of the Case........................................................................................................................ 1

Non-Contentious Material............................................................................................................... 4

Was the Collision a Cause of the Plaintiff Suffering PTSD?.................................................. 12

The Plaintiff.................................................................................................................................. 17

Service and sport before the collision....................................................................................... 18
Family and social relationships before the collision................................................................. 19
The collision and its aftermath................................................................................................. 19
Work, family and social relationships after the collision.  Symptoms allegedly experienced.. 23

Mrs Stafford................................................................................................................................. 31
Mrs Wright................................................................................................................................... 34
Robbins......................................................................................................................................... 37
Lincoln.......................................................................................................................................... 38
Passmore....................................................................................................................................... 41
Solomon........................................................................................................................................ 43
McCracken................................................................................................................................... 43
Swan.............................................................................................................................................. 46
Dr Fellows Smith......................................................................................................................... 47
Dr Stain......................................................................................................................................... 51
Professors McFarlane and Hopwood....................................................................................... 54
Dr Milton...................................................................................................................................... 59
Professor Bryant.......................................................................................................................... 67
Dr Bell........................................................................................................................................... 73
Professor Burrows....................................................................................................................... 76
Professor Shalev.......................................................................................................................... 77
Conclusions.................................................................................................................................. 79

Damages............................................................................................................................................. 87

Damages for Pain and Suffering and Loss of Enjoyment of Life......................................... 87
Economic loss damages.............................................................................................................. 88
Conclusions.................................................................................................................................. 98

PTSD:  The Nature of the Condition............................................................................................ 98

Section 5(1A) of the Limitation Act............................................................................................ 112

Estoppel............................................................................................................................................ 120

Aspects of the Pleading............................................................................................................ 121

The duty alleged by paragraph 2(a)....................................................................................... 121
Paragraph 2(f) of the Reply.................................................................................................... 123
Paragraph 2(h)(vi) of the Reply............................................................................................. 124
An unpleaded detriment........................................................................................................ 125

Conceptual Aspects of the Pleaded Estoppel....................................................................... 125
The Estoppel considered by reference to the Evidence....................................................... 132

The assumption that the plaintiff was forbidden to speak to anyone about the collision...... 133
The assumptions that the plaintiff would be treated by the defendant for any injuries which he suffered, that he was not injured in the collision and that it was acceptable for him to drink alcohol in order to forget the collision.................................................................................................................. 145

Waiver............................................................................................................................................... 150

Summary.......................................................................................................................................... 150

HIS HONOUR:

Statement of the Case

1. Lindsay John Stafford was born on 17 November 1929 and died on 7 October 2004.…